Boiler-output control



Feb. 25j, 1930. C, G, HAWLEY 1,748,286

Iv' BOILER OUTPUT CONTROL 1 Filed March 5, 1926 '25 steam from the boiler.

Patented Feb.V 25, `193() nutren? STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, F CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRIFIX COR- PORATION, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, \A CORPORATION OF OHIO Berman-OUTPUT 'CONTROL Application led March 5, 1926. Serial No. 92,476.

Addedto by the'violent and unequal liber- ,ation` of steam at the different points, the

surging so disrupts the steam disengagement surface as to throw masses orslugs of water into the steam space, with the result that much Vof. it is carried away through the outi' v let or nozzle by the escaping steam. Thus,

2.0. the steamleaving the boiler becomes a vehicle for moisture and solids and in many instances large quantities thereof pass into the engines, turbines, and other steam units, which should receive only dry and` clean Any steam superyheater that may be interposed is likewise fouled and rendered inefficient.

The objects of my invention are to overcome these difficulties and to avoid the maintenance and equipment costs involved there- As will become apparent, my invention in several of its embodiments, is of general V applicability and will be found to be of ado vantage in all steam boilers and evaporators,

whether working under pressure or vacuum.

` But in the drawings, that form Apart -of this specification, the invention is illustrated in that form which seems best adapted to locomotive boilers, where the difficulties to be surmounted are the greatest.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of a typical steam locomotive boiler equipped with the structures that embody the present invention.

Fig. 2 vis a vertical longitudinal section of the same boiler and structures except that thethrottle valve is replaced by an open @D I standpipe.

f Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on theline -m of Figs. 1 and 2. y lt will be seen that only the upper middle portion of the locomotive boiler is shown in the drawings The wrapper sheet is marked 2. The upper forward corner of the fire box isV marked 3, and the flues 4. The shell or barrel of the boiler is marked 5 and the dome 6, and the dome cap, 6. The steam outlet or so-oalled drypipe is marked 7 and, as usual, leads to the front end of thefboiler.

At the rear end of the drypipe is a stand-l pipe 8, which extends into thetop of the dome. As shown in Fig. l, the standpipe may be equipped with a throttlevalve 9, or itmay have a simple open upper end, as shown at l0 in Fig. 2, the. latter being characteristic lof a construction in which the throttle valve is arranged at the forward end of the drypipe, usually in the smoke box.

The part of the shell or barrel which is coveredby the dome 6, contains a large opening l1, through which the standpipe 8 rises; and through which access may be had to the interior of the` boiler when the dome cap 6 is removed. lThe normal water level is indicated `by the line WL. The surface thus indicated will also be referred to as the steam disengagement surface.

In modern locomotives, the boilers are of suchgreat size as to leave little clearance space at the top and the steam domes must ofnecessity be s0 low as to almost disappear sor far as beingy a distinguishing boiler element is concerned. Perforce, the said disengagement surface dangerously approaches the level at which the steam escapes into the top'of the stand-pipe or outlet. Unless preventive means be devised it is inevitable that water shall be elevated from the disengagement surface and discharged through the outlet with the steam.I As dry lpipe steam outlet velocities ranging from 6,000 to 12,- 000feet per minute are common, it should be apparent that.` although moderately dry steam is secured from high domed, small locomotive boilers, in the case of the larger locomotives the supply of dry steam is defeated for, in fact, every tendency seems to be directed toward empi-.ying the boiler of wadom@V "and outlet. To reach fthe latter, steam `'iiroin the 4lmajor A dise'ngagierneim 'surter., as Well as of steam. These tendencies are aggravated Whenever the disengagement surface is fouled With impurities and Worse when actual foaming conditions are encountered. They are augmented When the boiler is ffi'ied athighlratings, at which times the disengagement surface is violently Vagitated by the numberless ascending steam bubbles from-the evaporating surfaces of the boiler. And, further, the 'forcestending to elevate the Water and discharge it at the steam outlet are made more certain'of'a'ction by the surging and splashing of the boiler Water as the locomotive lurchesand rolls up-y on the railsand at times when the brakes are applied and lwith 'every 'sudden curve and change of s gjralde.- Such motions ftheboiler thrjiv"quantitiesjof fvvater iiito the steam Y space result in lthedrypipe, vthe superhea't'er, the 'valves 1and 'the leifigin'es,

and v'einthe aukiliary .steam suchas the :tiii'com'fireissbi and 'ptite head light Itlir'- bipjeare greeted.

The major difficulties "encountered have been' described at greater'lengtli than iisualin order that the i simple 'constructions liif'nfolved in,4 this invention may be better appreciated and morele'a'rlyunderstood.V 'Taepri "sly eintbfuiepresai inventin is ,the 'parti fisiiiitiife to which .if have .si rirmmsubi: Iris-in arielatifi "lil-liet 10091fiblrfvirfset aside 01 separated fromth'e majordisn'gage A ent surface. This 'poolis deiinediby a'n encompassingr ,Wall Athat rrises liroin a jgoi'nt bel'vv tithe safefloivf-Water level inthe boilerfextends nearly to the Atop 'ofthe boiler shell. This pool'is lociatedfaround and'beneath the steam outlet; this case directly beneath the steam dome. lALsWilljbe'c'ome clear, the dip ofthe vvall into therboil'er seals oiithe lovverendof the 'pool as alstearn entrance, Vei'cept for such steam'f as iiiaivbe* disengaged thesurface of the rpool itself. Thus the st eani'fn'iiis't ifind another' piatlifover which yto vreach 1the steam face' must 'pass over or'thij'oughfthetop yof the pool dfihingivall. vAs "Will betei'plained in detailfaiiyipta-rtieles and masses 'ofvv'at'er that maybe 'carriedtby thestelain are thr'oivn down ifiioihepsoi transmitan-ure @aliases ai lier, by which even the most minute parti` cles oi' moisture are also Withheld from the steamoutlet; all to the betteradvantage of thesuperheatei, the steam lines, valves and engines.

From the foregoing Vit should be evident that While my yinvention perhaps meets the rgreatestneed in the case nt locomotive boilers, it--is also generally applicabletoallboilers -and eva-porating vessels,v being Well adapted for use Wherever vapor is released from a'disengagement surface of sufcient eX- f i tent to admit of its described subdivision and f is'soelose to'or insuch restricted cominunication With the steam outlet as to require definite measures to prevent the carrying over of entra-ined moisture. 1

, Tiithe dravvingsjthe above described steam poifis marked IP and "will be seen ,to be lle ned byvtlie encompassingwall 1W.Y This w'all i'n'ay be o'i "any desired "shape iin horizeiimi y'dressse'C'i-ion ibut 'fis preferably 'cylindrical, as Well shown in Fig. 3. As Athere shown eisfc'omposed "of fve"vrtca1ly sepa; rated curved sections; ftvvoof thes'e 12-'12 meet above and b elovv the drypipe'f. The pair of sections 13-413 are "at the sides and the Sectin lli: is at the rearsidebr'ntl, Opi l5, :and lare jOiii'ed 'by a plurality :Uf easily Y reinova'bl-efbolts 16. Asa'c'cessftothe boiler here shown isfgained 'through-the dome, "all of :the fastreings V151416 lare placed uponV the iin'er'fsdeblilie 'part or wall W fand it Willits understoodthat thef'pat 'W l's'of such generous size las to easily accommodate man.

ico

The @pen iowerna irprlhe wauw-(ma pool 'is f"some`vvhat" above 'the il'ues 4, to avoid 'Wear on thejlatter.' of the Wall WV i'sfc'urved tov correspond to the 105 f' The 'upper end innersideoftheboilershell 'andisseparated i iio steam 'from the annular opening 18 into the nome. Second, the sleeve or collar 20, as h'ereshown, alsose'rves as a support from which the Wall, W, hangs, 'asthrough the medium of vthe hanger Ybars 2l. The upper ends 'oi' the hangers 21, maybe riveted or othervif'ise permanently fastened vto the dep'ending' Collar. Their vloivfer4 ends 'are v:att'rfuzhed, to the side Wall sections 13 bykey's r'bolts'22. As a rule'only the Wall section lc vneedfbe removed to perinitfent'ranceft'o the interior otlje boiler butf'ttim'es all of the sections Vshould be taken up. Hence, the employment of the wall section 14 against the thrust of the surging water'.- The othersections brace lagainst the collar through the medium of their `internal flanges 15.

YSpecial attention is called to the fact that the steam pool occupies only a very minor part of the disengagement surface. Further, the pool defining wall or structure is of such moderate width that it occupies only a minor part of the transverse section of the boiler. Thus, the spaces S', S on opposite sides of the pool are left amply large to permit an inspectoror workman to move along the tops of the fluesfrom end to end of the boiler.

i Generally, the surface WL is in a very disturbed state, due to the ebullition of the f water. And the water splashes heavily from side to sideand end to end when the locomotivel is in motion. f In consequence, the steam space S is filled with steam that usually is heavily overburdened with particles and massesofwater.' The burden-ed steam enters the annular opening 18 at the top ofthe pool v c and encountering the annular baffle or collar 20 is deflected downward.r Thus, the'heavier water kis causedto plunge into the relatively quiet water of the pool, leaving the steam free to rise into the domewith littleif anyl burden of moisture.

Here follows the action `of the steam 'refining yor purifying devices which my invention prescribes for use within the dome itself, and which functions to throw down anymoisture which may perchancerise from the steam pool. As shown, the domel is dividedinto upper and lowerl parts by a floor or horizontal partition 24 at about the levelV of the to-p of the standpipe 8. The devices 25 are located at respective holes 24 in the floor 24` andare so called full automatic centrifix units, meaning that the units are of `such form that thecollected water is thrown back' into the boilerand need not be discharged to a point outside of the boiler. They provide avenuesthrough which the steam must pass l in order toenter the space26 in the extreme top of the dome 6.' The floor accommodates the upper end of the standpipe or pipes and they, therefore, receive steam only from the ydry steam space 26. Each unit is compo-sed 0f a top 25 having an opening that registers with the opening 24 in the lfloor 24, and a bottoni 25, and a generally cylindrical side wall 25a; The latter` comprises a plurality of tangential blades between which are tangential openings or tuyres leading inward. The steam from the lower part of the dome perforce enters tangentially and takes on a whirling motion within the unit 25. The effect of this whirling motion within the defined unit structure is to throw down the entrained moisture. The moisture drains back into the pool from the bottoms of the units 25 while the clean dried steam passes upward through the holes 24', thus entering the dry space 26 and gaining access to the throttle valve or open upper end of the standpipe.

In some cases it is desirable to avoid collections of water in the lower corners 6 of the dome; hence, the drain holes 6L in the overlapping edges of the boiler shell. The water drains away freely, but only because of the fact that the opening 18 at the top of the steam pool is amply large. That is, the supply of steam to the interior of the pool P is sufcient to maintain the same pressure within the )col and dome as within the main steam space b of the boiler.

Attention is Vcalled to the fact that the rsteam entrance opening 18 at the top of the steam pool may be so restricted as even to wire-draw the steam over the top of the wall W. It is a question whether the downwardly deflecting action of thebaffle collar 20 is or is not improved by restricting the capacity of the annular opening 18. yAs stated, the aggregate opening may be so restricted as to make its area little greateithantlie area of the throttle valve and drypipe.- This notwithstanding the fact that an apparent drop of pressure within the pool would cause the elevation of the surface of the water therein. Such elevation will not take place. Indeed, it is a feature of my invention to prevent a drop of pressure within the pool. This prevention is accomplished very simply, to wit by the accelerated evaporation of steam from the surface of the pooh-a natural and inevitable result of any tendencyk toward a lower pressure within the poel. To the end that this feature of my invention shall be clearly understood, attention is again directed te the fact that the boiler is assumed to be in operation under steam and that the surface of the poel is no more than a part of the whole disengagement surface VKL.

From all practical standpoints I recommend that the area of the intake opening 18 be made several times that of the drypipe in order that the velocity of the steam at that point shall be relatively lessened. By doing so there is assurancethat the greater burden of water will be thrown down ybefore the steam reaches the opening 18, lessening by therefore, I desirethat it be definitely understood that my invention is not limitedto the precise structures herein shown and described.

Havinof thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. rlhe described method of drying steam and like vapors previous to emission from the Vapor outlets of an evaporating vessel, that consists in organizing an open bottomed liquid and vapor pool around and below the outlet of an area several 'times larger than said outlet, but nevertheless in itslower party embracing a minor part of the disengagement surface in the vessel, conducting the vapor outlet of an area several times larger tliai'ij said outlet, but nevertheless in its lower-part embracing a minor part of the disengagement surface in the vessel, conducting the vapor from the major part of the disengagement surface into the upper part of said pool and thus toward said outlet, simultaiieousl throwing the entraiiied liquid downward in said pool, permitting the vapor to rise in said pool, and finally wringing the remaining moisture from the vapor before permitting it to escape at said outlet.

y3. The described method of drying7 steam and like vapors previous to emission from the vapor outlets of an evaporating vessel,`

that consists in organizing an open bottomed liquid and vapor pool below the outlet of an area several times larger than said outlet, but nevertheless in-its lower part embracing a minor part of the disengagement surface in the vessel, conducting the vapor from the major part of said disengagement surface to said outlet through the upper part of said pool, simultaneously wringing the entrained moisture from the vapor and throwing, it downward upon said minor part of the disengagement surface while permitting the vapor to rise and escape at said outlet, and meantime supplying any deficiency of pressure within said pool by evaporation from said minor part of the disengagement surface.

l. A steam drying pool structurerbeneath the vapor outlet partially submerged inthe boiler water and embracing a minor part of the vapor disengagement surface in the boiler, in combination with a baflie at the top of said po-ol and adapted to cause entrained." moisture to plunge into said part of thedisengagement surface, and auxiliary vapor drying means interposed between said balile and said outlet. f l

5. A boiler and its Yvapor outlet, in combination with a baille attached to the underr side of the boiler top and encompassing -a larger preliminary outlet,`and an encompassing pool wall spaced outwardV from said baffle and downward from said boiler top and spaced from said preliminary outlet and said wall extending thence to a point below the liquid level in said boiler thereby embracing a minor part of the disengagement surface 7 A boiler having a vapor outlet leading from its top, in combination kwith a wertical battle encompassing said outlet lat a distance vtherefrom and hanging vfrom the top of theY boiler, a still larger open 'topped pool wall in turn encompassing said baffle and extending downward below the watery level inthe boiler.

8. A boiler having an opening in its top,-in combination with ajdome positioned above and closing said opening, a steam pipe leading from the upper part of said dome and an' opentopped pool wall of greater horizontal area thansaid opening, and positioned within the boiler below said opening, the top ofv said wall being spaced from said shell to permit the passage of steam, said pool wall being also openat thevbottom and extending downwardly in .the .boiler to a point below the liquid i level therein. Y

`9. A boiler shell having an opening in :its top, in combination with a baffle ring conforming to the margin of said opening and Y extending slightly 'below kthe inner sideofkk the shell, a dome vpositionedabove and closing said opening, an outlet positioned in the upper part of said dome and an open topped pool wall of greater horizontalarea than said ring and positioned within the boiler below said opening, said pool wall being also open at the bottom and extending to a point below the liquid level therein. l

- 10. A boiler having a vapor outlet leadingV from its top,.in combination with a vertical baffle encompassing said outlet at a distance therefrom and hanging from the top of the boiler, a still larger open topped pool wall in turn encompassing said baffle and extend-- ing downward below the water level in the boilerand said wall comprising `la plurality of radially divided sections and yhangers therefor.

11. A boiler shell having an opening in its top, in combination with a dome positioned yabove and closing said opening, a steam pipe leading from the upperpart of said dome and an open topped pool wall of greater horiy dry pipe leading downwardly from thev upper part thereof, a pool structure of many times the cross-sectional area of the dry pipe and comprising a wall surrounding the same, said structure'presenting an open bottom below the liquid level in the boiler, and together with the adjacent shell presenting` a tortuous vapor entrance passage directly beneath the top of the boiler shell. v

13. A locomotive boiler shell having a dome opening in its top, in combination with a dome positionedabove said opening, a dry pipe positioned in said dome and extending downward through said opening, an annular wall structure of greater diameter than the said` dome opening and suspended and coaxial therewith, said wall structure being suspended and spaced from the top of the boiler and extending downward to a point below the water level ofthe boiler.

14. A locomotive boiler having a dome 4opening in the top of its shell, in combination low said flange, and therewith providing at the top of said wall a steam admission opening that is peripherally opposed to said flange, and the chamber within said wall being adapted to receive'precipitated moisture.

15. A locomotive boiler having a dome opening in the top of its shell, in combination wit-ha dome upon the shell above said opening, a dry pipe leading downward from the interior of said dome and thence forward in the shell, a moisture deflecting flange hanging from said shell at said opening, an upstanding wall of larger diameter than said flange and suspended below said flange, and therewith' providing a restricted ,steam passage opening adjacent the shell and surrounding the dome opening therein, and said wall extending below the boiler water level.

opening in the top of its shell, in combination with a. dome upon the shell above said opening, a dry pipe leading downward from the interior'of said dome and thence forward in the shell, a circumferential vertical wall of larger diameter than said opening, suspended below the same and together with said shell providing an annular steam admission passage following the contour of said shell, and said wall extending below the water line in the boiler.

17. A locomotive boiler having a dome opening in the top of its shell, in combination with a dome upon the shell above said opening, a dry pipe leading downward from the interior of said dome and thence forward in the shell, an upstanding cylindrical wall of larger diameter than said opening, suspended from said shell and therewith providing an annular steam admission passage following the contour of said shell, said cylindrical wall defining a chamber opening freely below the boiler water level.

18. A locomotive boiler having a dome opening in the top of its shell, in combination with a dome upon the shell above said opening, a dry pipe leading downward from the interior of said dome and thence forward in the shell, and a steam and moisture deflecting flange hanging from said shell at said opening, an upstanding cylindrical wall of larger diameter' than said flange and suspended from said shell, said wall, shell and flange providing a restricted steam admission passage which directs the steam and moisture downward within said wall, said admission opening being of a larger area than said dry pipe,

vand said cylindrical wall defining a steam `and water chamber which opens freely below the boiler water level.

19. The improvement as dened in claim 16 and characterized by said circumferential vertical wall being composed of dismemberable sections of a size permitting introduction and removal through said dome when the latter is open.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of March, 1926.

CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY.

16. A locomotive boiler having a dome 

